The Town

This is another strong film here by Ben Affleck who seems to know how to make films. The film is about a couple of Charlestown, Mass robbers who are extremely efficient and intelligent. Jeremy Renner plays a no-nonsense robber who is very workman-like and eliminates personal from business. Affleck plays an ethical robber, who shows more of his human characteristics and falls in love with an underrated Rebecca Hall. Jon Hamm plays an FBI agent and shows solid work and Blake Lively is also solid as a street woman. The film is true to its characters, as some robbers are ethical and some less. Good work....nothing stands out too much here, even if Renner is very solid.

Grade: B/B+

Inception

Great, mesmerizing, revolutionary, and effortless work here by Christopher Nolan, who is a huge star in filmmaking. This film is about an imaginary world, where our subcontious could be manipulated and influenced, for either personal, or monetary gain. What would you do if you were able to control someone's mind by gaining entry into their dreams? This might be the best script of the year and Nolan should get consideration for a best director prize. A really great film here. The cast consists of Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Caine, etc....No one really stands out but its a great ensemble work. Nolan must and better get nominations for screenplay and direction.

Grade: A/A-

Les Amours Imaginaires(Heartbeats)

Another intensely brilliant film here by Canadian filmmaker Xavier Dolan. He is taking over Quebec cinema and this film proves his power. The film is(like its title) about "imaginary love" that people cling to as its almighty non-reality. Two characters(Dolan and a GREAT performance by Monia Chokri) are both in love, passion, dissoluttion with the young Niels Schneider and their "imaginary love" is only witnessed by them. This is a great film and it takes a topic and makes it real, yet situational.......epic and timeless about the perception and feeling of love and how it never really gets their. If more people would watch Dolan's work, he would get more recognition. Powerful work again.

Grade: A/A-

The Kids are All Right

Really strong film here about family and family relations(whether straight or gay). This film is about a lesbian couple and their family. They live a normal, somewhat-ordinary life as they live a post-modern family life....until the sperm doaner comes back into the picture and tests these people's post-modern family life, without ultimate succession. Great work here by Bening, Moore and Ruffalo, who are all solid.

Grade: B